From the ArcaMax Publishing, Cats & Dogs Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/catsanddogs/s-173667-733379
Lassie, a female Rough Collie, is 'the world's most famous dog' and a
fictional character who has starred in many radio shows, movies, TV
shows, and books from 1938 through 2006. The character of Lassie was
created by British-American author Eric Knight in Lassie Come-Home in
1938.
In 1943 the book was made into what would become the first Lassie
movie which generally followed the plot of the book. Since then, there
have been numerous sequels, television series and spin-offs throughout
the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, made by various production companies, with
varied casts and themes, making the Lassie concept as a television
series one of the very longest running of any collective series.
Lassie was so popular that it is one of only three dog characters
considered "stars" who were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame.